10:36
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 5:2
But now it’s Zhizhen Zhang who doesn’t get the ball over the edge of the net. His backhand gets stuck and at 30:30 everything is still possible.
10:33
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 5:2
With the double break behind her, Zhizhen Zhang serves to win the set. The first point goes to Zhang before Zverev’s backhand finally hits the field. The ball crashes into the opponent over the longline side. In the subsequent rally, Zhang repeatedly plays the slice back and takes the pace away from Zverev. The German runs around his backhand and wants to play longline over the high side of the net and gets stuck.
10:31
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 5:2
The German number one can still fend off breakball number one, but then it doesn’t come together again. Zhang actually just plays the ball in, but Zverev wants too much. He seems to bend his backhand slightly behind the line through the middle. The double break for the Chinese is here!
10:29
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 4:2
It will be tight again for Zverev. The German comes forward with the attacking ball but Zhizhen Zhang reacts just right. He senses the right corner and then pulls his backhand longline past the German. Another backhand winner follows, giving him three more break points.
10:24
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 4:2
Is there anything going on for Alexander Zverev now? Zverev sets up Zhang nicely and pulls his overhead ball through to win the point. The Chinese doesn’t let this bother him at all and gets his serve again without any problems with a forehand winner and two serves right on the line.
10:24
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 3:2
Now the German is fully involved! The next ace brings him a sparkling service game.
10:22
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 3:1
The return from the Chinese will be very short. Zverev is there and prepares his point well. Zhang tries to throw in a passed ball, but Zverev spreads out. He places the ball at the front of the net and secures the first point. This is followed by an ace and a very strong rally from both of them. Zverev lets his opponent run from right to left before the paths become too wide. With his forehand inside-out he gets the winner to make it 40:0.
10:22
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 3:1
With the slice to the outside, Zhang serves cleverly and secures the next service game at 15.
10:18
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 2:1
Zverev can’t yet read Zhang’s serve properly. He misses the backhand return straight out of bounds. Added to this is the bad luck with the edge of the net. Zverev’s backhand jumps onto the edge of the net and back into his own court.
10:16
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 2:1
Alexander Zverev has to find his game now, otherwise this first set will get away from him too quickly. With great determination he serves a service winner and an ace. The other two serves are also strong and Zhang cannot get into the flow of the game. Zverev catches up with zero and stays there.
10:13
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 2:0
The number 45 in the world is immediately there. After one mistake, he managed three strong serves, which immediately put Zverev under pressure. The German is quickly forced to make mistakes and so Zhang confirms his break to 15.
10:13
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 1:0
Can Zhizhen Zhang confirm the break? The first point goes to him before he tries to pick up the pace with his forehand and puts the ball into the net, 15:15.
10:10
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 1:0
With a good first serve, Germany’s number one destroys a break point. But then it happened! The Chinese lures Zverev forward with a well-placed stop. Zverev is very far back and brings the ball back longline, but without pressure. Zhang is there and pulls his forehand cross as a passing shot. The early break is done!
10:10
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 0:0
The backhand isn’t running yet. The ball gets stuck in the net again and Zhizhen Zhang has the first break chances.
10:09
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 0:0
The next point also goes to Zhang, who doesn’t have to do much yet. Zverev misjudges the Chinese’s short emergency ball, falls behind and doesn’t get enough height into the ball. It’s a dangerous 0:30 from the German’s point of view.
10:05
Zhizhen Zhang – Alexander Zverev 0:0
It’s ready! Alexander Zverev opens the game with his own service. The first rally occurs on the second serve, which Zverev loses with a backhand cross error.
10:05
Group winner will be determined
Since both nations won their opening duels 3-0, the group winner will be determined here today. Whoever wins today will move on to the next round. But even the loser still has a good chance of progressing as Perth’s best group runner-up. All group winners are certain to reach the quarter-finals and the best runners-up from Perth and Sydney, where the group phases take place, can continue to dream of victory.
09:59
Nations are there
The two nations have arrived on the court. First the anthem for Germany was played, now the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China is playing. So you can get started in just a few minutes.
09:51
Mixed competition
After the men’s singles are played, the women get ready. Laura Siegemund will most likely play the individual match here. She has to deal with the Chinese woman Gao. After the two singles games, a mixed doubles will be played. The German team plans to take the pitch with the Zverev/Siegemund duo. The Chinese are betting on Yan Bai and Xinyu Gao.
09:41
Germany as defending champions
Germany won last year’s edition of the United Cup. In the mission to defend their title, the team around Alexander Zverev got off to a perfect start in the group phase. The foundation stone was laid with a 3-0 win over Brazil. Today it should continue against China. In the Rac Arena, Group E is against China. Alexander Zverev, number two in the world, faces Zhang Zhizhen. As 45th in the ATP world rankings, the Chinese should not be underestimated. In his opening game against the Brazilian Monteiro, he secured a confident 6:3 and 6:0 victory.
09:32
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to the United Cup. Alexander Zverev starts on the second matchday. For Team Germany he will face Zhang Zhizhen in the first singles. It should start at 10 a.m.